OREANDA-NEWS. September 12, 2012. Steps by Taiwan to raise its profile in East Asia’s maritime-boundary disputes threaten to escalate tensions just as the region’s leaders prepare to gather for an annual summit.

Taiwan’s coast guard plans five days of live-fire drills starting tomorrow on Taiping, one of the largest South China Sea islands, over Vietnam’s objections. Separately, President Ma Ying-jeou, whose popularity has sunk since his January re- election, unveiled a peace proposal in the East China Sea, where ire has flared between mainland China and Japan in recent weeks.

The Taiwanese moves inject a fresh element to conflicts over areas rich in oil, gas and fish that have intensified in the run-up to leadership contests in China, South Korea and Japan later this year. Along with Hong Kong, where activists sailed to Japanese-claimed islands this month, Taiwan backs Chinese claims against those of American allies Japan and the Philippines, even as it depends on the U.S. for security.

“Legislators saw that Taiwan was left out of international talks and agreements, and asked the government to show the world that Taiwan has control over this territory,” said Samuel C. Y. Ku, a professor at the Institute of China and Asia-Pacific Studies in Taiwan. “As long as you have sovereignty you have the authority to get oil resources. If you don’t have sovereignty, then you have nothing.”

Taiwan delivered 40-millimeter anti-aircraft guns and 120- millimeter mortars to Taiping earlier this month to bolster its defenses. Vietnam’s foreign ministry last week called on Taiwan to immediately cancel the live-fire exercises.